29-09-2009

As you turn your phone into cash and then donate it to BBC Children in Need, it's nice to know how those donations are then applied to a project.

One such project that receives funding from BBC Children in Need is Twinkle House, which offers a practical support service to children and young people with physical or learning disabilities and additional needs.

Many of their clients have some form of sensory impairment, with conditions such as Down’s syndrome, Autism or Asperger syndrome who find it difficult to make sense of their environment or display challenging behaviour that can be difficult for them and their families to cope with. Twinkle House has a dedicated team, including a Children & Young Person's Development Worker funded by BBC Children in Need, who provide one to one support using their multi-sensory studio and resources to help these children learn how to communicate their needs and to participate in everyday activities and tasks, and improve their self esteem and confidence. The project aims to support these children and their families in practical ways to improve social and communication skills, thus improving their quality of life.

BBC Children in Need awarded Twinkle House a three year grant of £82,206 to fund the salary of a Child Development Worker, associated costs and volunteer expenses.